Former military Heads of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, will be among the dignitaries on Monday, 19 November, 2024, in Abuja at the book launch examining the harrowing era of military coups in Nigeria. The book, titled ‘Nine Lives: The Bello-Fadile Memoirs’, was authored by Col. Bello Fadile (rtd), a key figure in the 1995 “phantom coup” against the late General Sani Abacha. Babangida, who wrote the foreword of the book, will serve as the Grand Patron of the Day, while Abdulsalami Abubakar will chair the occasion. Former presidential candidate under the Social Democratic Party…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar. A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said this was achieved in series of intelligence led operations, who led to the recovery of the illicit drugs and the arrest of the masterminds of the crimes. He said a total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.4 kilogrammes cocaine…
Major transport unions in Ogun State have commended the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun for setting up the Special Task Force to monitor the activities of filling stations over alleged sharp practices. They noted that the gesture will help their members get value for their money, even as they cautioned members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to stop their attempts to blackmail the government. Recall that the state government had constituted a Task Force on Transport Control and Monitoring of Unethical Practices at Filling Stations to ensure that citizens are not overburdened with transport fares vis-à-vis…
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has commended both the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for displaying the high level of professionalism during the Saturday, November, 2024 governorship elections held across the 18 LGAs in the state. The Minister stated this after casting his vote at Polling Unit 17: Ward 3, Okeagbe LGA of the state. The Minister who adjudged the election peaceful also commended the large turnout of voters who trooped out in their numbers across the local government areas to exercise their franchise. According to him, “It’s been a peaceful election with officials displaying high-level…
The Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies of compromising the election held on Saturday, 16 November, 2024 and urged the Chairman of INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to resign. Agboola expressed displeasure at the conduct of the election in Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA. Ajayi was accredited and cast his vote at 10:45 a.m., at Unit 4, Ward 2 Idumado in Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA. The PDP governorship candidate said it took more than 10 minutes for the INEC BVAS to capture him. “The system is not perfect…
In a significant move to enhance agricultural productivity in Nigeria’s North East region, the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), has kickstarted its pilot program in the region with the donation of 25 water-pumping machines to farmers in Taraba State. This pilot program is part of ongoing efforts by the NLTF to provide vital agricultural equipment to support dry-season farmers across the federation and address their irrigation-related challenges, with the aim of promoting improved crop yields and economic growth. The Executive Secretary/CEO of the agency Comrade Tosin Adeyanju represented by Mallam Sagir Ahmed Mohd an assistant director monitoring and evaluation while…
Nigeria and India have reaffirmed their commitment to a robust strategic partnership, pledging to strengthen ties in key areas including economic development, defence, healthcare and food security. This is contained in a joint statement issued on Sunday, 17 November, 2024, in Abuja at the conclusion of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Nigeria at the invitation of President Bola Tinubu. Shortly after the Indian Prime Minister received a formal welcome, including a 21-artillery gun salute at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi went into a tete-a-tete, and later jointly presided over an expanded bilateral…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, 17 November, 2024 declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress(APC), as the winner of the Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State. Aiyedatiwa was declared winner after polling the highest number of votes in the election. The incumbent Governor battled Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olorunfemi Festus of the Labour Party (LP), and Abbas Mimiko of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), among others, in Saturday’s poll. Announcing the result in Akure, the state capital, INEC’s Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi Durotimi, said Aiyedatiwa…
Edo Queens on Saturday, 16 November, 2024, dethroned reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa after coming back from a goal down and penalty kick miss to win 2-1. At the dot of 90 minutes, it looked like the Edo Queens were out. Then, there were six minutes of additional time. By the fourth minute of the added time, Mamelodi Sundowns were already playing for time, trying to wind down the clock. They even attempted further substitutions. Then came a turnaround. Edo Queens who had missed many scoring chances including a second-half penalty miss suddenly woke up and levelled up…
Authorities in India on Saturday, 16 November, 2024 disclosed that a fire outbreak at a neonatal unit of an Indian hospital killed 10 newborns, with another 39 rescued from a blaze blamed on a faulty oxygen machine. Building fires are common in India due to a lack of firefighting equipment and a routine disregard for safety regulations. The fire broke out at about 10:30 pm (1700 GMT) on the night of Friday, 15 November, 2025 at the Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College in Jhansi, around 450 kilometres (280 miles) south of the capital New Delhi. Footage from the scene showed charred beds…